Anyone own a 3rd gen ST?

[barbwire]

I bought my father-in-law a 2500 ST QC LB. We added the crome front end and a cd player. Dealer installed the PDL with the remote. He gets a long just fine in it. But the few times I've driven it, adjusting the mirrors sucks. Plus there's no center consol in it. Kinda a pain to keep papers, wallets, etc. He doesn't miss the cruise because he never uses it in his other truck. But no mirrors and no center consol are hard on him.

If I am not mistaken, I believe that cruise is standard in all pickups. My 04 ST came with it. So did air conditioning. And tilt wheel.

 

[Bertram65]

You can get cruise on the STs, mine came with it, but it was an option. As far as the mirrors go, they are a pain to adjust, but I am the only one who drives the truck so it has never been an issue.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Even though it's an ST you can, i. e. must , have cruise and LSD.



Plus you can add a bunch more options/upgrades, e. g. rear slider, CD, ebrake, mudflaps (another must), snowplow pkg. , light pkg. , protection pkg. and so forth. An ST doesn't have to be a tin lizzy.

 

[Yo Hoot]

Please don't take this personal but why would anybody "like" crank windows? What is the advantage? I have had power windows in just about every vehicle I have owned in the last 20 years and only one time did I have a problem. It was a bad switch on a 1994 Chevy C/K Blazer. Fixed the switch myself at no cost.



I had more problems with crank window way back when than I ever had with power.





Flame suit on :-laf

 

[doppx006]

I have a St 2wd 6speed open diff and I live in very northern WI I dont find it an issue in the snow I just have 1400lbs of weight in the box, yes a four wheel drive with weight will do better than a 2wd with weight but as long as you arent dumb and pull of in the ditch where there is snow it is pretty good. resale will suck I am sure up here, so I figure on keeping it forever or bying the next truck in texas or somewhere that 2wd is widely accepted. ciao

 

[driverno8]

If I am not mistaken, I believe that cruise is standard in all pickups. My 04 ST came with it. So did air conditioning. And tilt wheel.

There is no cruise control on his truck. It was an option, but we decided not to do it cuz he'd never use it. Take a look at your sticker if you still have it. I think it'll be on there as an option. Air was also an option at the time. BTW: his truck is an 04. 5 CTD 600

 

[MFalkinham]

When I upgraded from my '92 W350 I considered buying a new '04 ST Ram. But I just couldn't bring myself to spend that kind of money for a truck with less options than my '92. I ended up buying a used '03 SLT 2wd that has exactly the options I wanted, but I had to go out of state to find it.

Given the choice between a stripped down new truck and a nicely optioned used truck, I'd buy the used one every time. If you're willing to travel to buy a truck there are some great deals out there.

 

[mazdarotary]

When I upgraded from my '92 W350 I considered buying a new '04 ST Ram. But I just couldn't bring myself to spend that kind of money for a truck with less options than my '92. I ended up buying a used '03 SLT 2wd that has exactly the options I wanted, but I had to go out of state to find it.



Given the choice between a stripped down new truck and a nicely optioned used truck, I'd buy the used one every time. If you're willing to travel to buy a truck there are some great deals out there.

I am willing to travel. Heck I bought my 92 from a TDR member in Michigan back in 02. I flew out with my plates,and my father-in-law,and drove it home that night. 12 hours from just outside Detroit,and we never had to fuel up.



There is an 03 3500 single wheel SLT Quad 2wd 6speed on this site for sale now,but it isn't a TDR mamber selling it if that even matters. I was wondering if the price seems fair or not. It has 77,700 miles,and the two pics I have seen it looks good. It is a short wheel base which I would rather have a LWB,but beggars can't be choosers. The seller is asking $23500 for it,and it has a good option package with the limited slip,Infinity/cd player,cab lights,alloy wheels,fog lamps,and all the power gadgets. What do you guys think?



How would a 3500 Quad with the short wheelbase ride?My father in law has an 03 3500 SRW LWB 4X4,and that rides good,but this truck is a bit different. What engine would this truck have?My father-in-law has a truck that was bought new in Rhode Island,and is a mid level output I think with a 5 speed,not the 6 speed. Wasn't there basically three different engines that year?Opps I am not supposed to talk engines,and trannys in this forum. Sorry.



Chris

 

[Bertram65]

3500 SRW trucks ride the same as 2500s, some have said they felt softer becuase the main spring pack is not as firm because it has the overloads that do not come into play till the back is a couple inches down, I cannot notice any difference in the two. If the truck is a '03 from RI with a 5 speed it is most likely 250hp, the only other thing it could be would be 235hp if it has MA emmisions, there is a little white tag on the valve cover with the HP on it on the drivers side near the front. For '03 there were 3 different HPs, 235hp, 250hp, and 305hp.

 

[mazdarotary]

3500 SRW trucks ride the same as 2500s, some have said they felt softer becuase the main spring pack is not as firm because it has the overloads that do not come into play till the back is a couple inches down, I cannot notice any difference in the two. If the truck is a '03 from RI with a 5 speed it is most likely 250hp, the only other thing it could be would be 235hp if it has MA emmisions, there is a little white tag on the valve cover with the HP on it on the drivers side near the front. For '03 there were 3 different HPs, 235hp, 250hp, and 305hp.

Thanks Bertram,



The truck I was talking about for sale on the TDR is in GA,and I believe it is the high output,as it has the 6 speed. My father-in-laws truck was the one bought in RI,and I believe we looked it up,and it is the 250 hp model. The funny thing is it doesn't feel any more powerful than my truck,but that could be due to the fact that my truck has dynoed at 205 RWHP,and I bet it is a little bit lighter than his 4wd truck. My father-in-law bought his truck used a year or so ago,and it was bought new by a guy in RI,but the truck resided in MA,and my father-in-law bought it in CT. I bet the 305 horse motor would be a bit more powerful than my 92. What do you think?It sure is hard to find the exact truck I am looking for here in MA. I would like the option of having 4wd,but really it isn't a deal breaker to me if the truck is 2wd. I have got along just fine without it this long.

 

[Bertram65]

The 305hp should feel more powerful, I have never driven a 305hp truck. My buddy has a brand new one, 325hp, with the auto and 4. 10s and we drove both my truck and his back to back and stock to stock his truck had much more get up and go, I have some "adjustability" in the cab and with that turned up my truck was much quicker than his especially spool up and the lower rpms. I was thinking I wanted to buy a new truck for the more powerfull motor till I had a chance to do that test back to back.

I actually just talked to him and he is selling it, $30,900, it is a '04. 5 with 34k miles, auto, 4. 10s, 4X4, Laramie, quad cab dually. white sport, all it needs it tires, he is in MA, all he used it for was transportation and to tow his boat, it is mint.

 

[bighammer]

Please don't take this personal but why would anybody "like" crank windows? What is the advantage? I have had power windows in just about every vehicle I have owned in the last 20 years and only one time did I have a problem. It was a bad switch on a 1994 Chevy C/K Blazer. Fixed the switch myself at no cost.

I had more problems with crank window way back when than I ever had with power.


Flame suit on :-laf

There are a lot of times when I sort of wish I had manual crank windows-- At least on the driver door. In the winter the electric windows won't open if they've iced up. Electric is sort of handy in the summer to open or close everything.

 

[DGFoster]

I have an 04 ST and love it,I didnt at first but I got use to it and now I dont think I would have anything else.

The floor has a rubber mat,spray it out and it is clean.

Sure you have to crank a window up or down,but so what,I added some bigger tires and rims and a nice stereo and some gauges and a topper,I am very happy with it. .

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Given the choice between a stripped down new truck and a nicely optioned used truck, I'd buy the used one every time

For some of us ST fans the "nicely optioned" trucks ARE the ones with the hand cranks, rubber floor coverings, and manual locks - NOT the annoying motor driven little gizmos.